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CAUTION <br />BLANDING'S TURTLES <br />MAY BE ENCOUNTERED <br />IN THIS AREA <br />The unique and rare Blanding's turtle has been found in this area. Blanding's turtles are a State <br />Threatened species and are protected under Minnesota Statute 84.095, Protection of Threatened and <br />Endangered Species. Please be careful of turtles on roads and in construction sites. For additional <br />information on turtles, or to report a Blanding's turtle sighting, contact the DNR Nongame Specialist <br />nearest you: Bemidji (218- 755 - 2976); Brainerd (218- 828 - 2228); New Ulm (507- 359 - 6033); Rochester <br />(507- 280 - 5070); or St. Paul (651- 259 - 5110). <br />DESCRIPTION: The Blanding's turtle is a medium to large turtle (5 to 10 inches) with a black or dark blue, <br />dome - shaped shell with muted yellow spots and bars. The bottom of the shell is hinged across the front third, <br />enabling the turtle to pull the front edge of the lower shell firmly against the top shell to provide additional <br />protection when threatened. The head, legs, and tail are dark brown or blue -gray with small dots of light brown <br />or yellow. A distinctive field mark is the bright yellow chin and neck. <br />Illustration by Don Luce, from Turtles in Minnesota, Natural History Leaflet No. 9, June 1989, James Ford Bell Museum of Natural History <br />